Marian's Blog

Several of my small abstract paintings have been consigned to Yonder Shop, a gallery on 158 Reina Del Mar, in the Vallemar district of Pacifica. Here is a statement I provided for these paintings:

Living in Pacifica for several decades has had a strong influence on my artwork – the many moods of the sea, the sky that changes from the clearest blue to gray and threatening, and fog that softens the edges of the landscape.

Winter storms bring waves crashing onto the sandy beaches and the rocky shore, while creating the greenest of hillsides.

These small abstract paintings are snapshots of my observations.

These are examples of the 5″ x 5″ acrylic/mixed media paintings on gallery wrapped canvas that are available at Yonder Shop. Stop by and take a look.

My painting, OCHIBA – Fallen Leaves, will be shown in the WCA Peninsula Chapter’s SEASONS OF LIFE exhibit at the Peninsula Art Institute Gallery, 1777 California Drive, Burlingame, CA, along with 15 other member artists. The exhibit opens on November 20 and runs through January 4, 2015, with a reception on Saturday, December 6, 1-4PM.
Gallery hours are Wednesday – Sunday, 11AM-5PM. This event is free and open to the public.
My painting, OCHIBA -Fallen Leaves, is one in my Haiku Threads series, and is accompanied by a haiku poem that I had written: autumn shadow of my shadow I need a second life

This monotype was printed at KALA Institute and was shown in Los Angeles at an exhibit during their 2010 conference. It was purchased from the Coastal Arts League tonight. The actual image size is 4″ x 6″ and the framed size is 9″ x 12″.

Here is my statement: Our earth and seas are constantly changing with the land and water shifting their boundaries over time. Many millions of years ago there was a large inland sea in North America. It was a vast shallow sea, filled with abundant marine life including reptiles, birds, sharks and enormous fish and other invertebrates. My painting, Ancient Sea Bed, is my abstract representation of that past.

It’s always nice to get recognition for your work! The exhibit is over and the painting is available for sale. I’m very fond of this painting – it is acrylic/mixed media on 40″ x 30″ gallery wrapped canvas.

Two: Three of my paintings were juried into the WEST PAINT exhibit at Pacific Art League, 668 Ramona Street, Palo Alto. The exhibit runs through June 26, 2014. This is the opening exhibit after an extensive remodel of the historical building and galleries. The three paintings are “Strata”, “Gemini’s Twin”, and “Stillness” – all acrylic on canvas.

Three: My painting, “Silent Snow”, was recently sold from the Coastal Arts League Gallery to a couple from the East Bay. This was an acrylic/mixed media painting on paper.

I am still doing paintings for my Haiku Threads series and have also done several mixed media paintings on paper that I will post at another time. All of the paintings listed above are available for sale and many of my Haiku Threads paintings are showing at the Coastal Arts League Gallery, 300 Main Street in Half Moon Bay. As always, I invite you to visit my website http://www.marianyap.com

Printmakers know that you have to run many sheets through the press before you wind up with something acceptable. So, what happens to all those rejects? Printmaking paper is so hardy and has a special tactile nature that I hate to destroy those rejects. I decided to try an experiment using details of rejected prints having similar elements to create a montage. Here is what I came up with:

All Together NowMonotype/Collage

I might have to do this again – I have plenty of rejects as resource material!

My latest painting, “Shadow Tales” is another in my Haiku Threads series. I used a metallic acrylic paint which adds a bit of luminosity to the canvas and then I collaged a strip of painted paper wrapped with corded threads. It is on 16″ x 16″ gallery wrapped canvas and is currently on display at The Coastal Arts League Gallery in Half Moon Bay and is available for sale.

Last year I posted a painting titled SHIMO – Frost, which is one of the Haiku Threads series of paintings. It was accepted into the Coastal Arts League’s Annual Juried Show and the juror was Dr. Jonathan Fung, Professor at Santa Clara University. The exhibit opens on Friday, December 13 and runs through Sunday, January 19, 2014. A reception for the show will be on Saturday, December 14, 2013, 5 – 7 PM, and the public is invited to attend.

Here is the sixth painting in the smaller size (12″ x 12″) Haiku Threads series. Titled “Spring Rain”, acrylic/mixed media on gallery wrapped canvas. I tried to convey the feeling of a spring rain shower, using pastel hues and subdued contrast. This work is available for sale.